lent

If your family observes Lent, your kids might be used to giving up things like sodas or video games this time of year. But no matter what your religion practices, why not encourage your kids to pick up good habits instead? They might even replace their old ways without directly realizing it and continue the streak well past the 40 days of Lent. Here, some positive ideas for any child to practice.

1. Volunteering. Start by picking a few kid-friendly volunteer opportunities (like tree planting) and asking your children which they are most interested in doing. This will make it more exciting because they'll feel like they have a say in the process. Make a family outing of it so everyone can join in on the activity.
2. Reading more books. Make a stop at your nearest library and sign your kids up for cards if they don't already have one or visit a local bookstore. They can either pick out books to read on a daily basis or you can enroll them in engaging read-aloud sessions.
3. Spending more time outside. Do your kids spend more hours staring at a screen than being outdoors? Ask them to set aside a certain amount of time before the sun goes down to enjoy the fresh air. They can shoot hoops with the neighbors or walk to the corner store with dad instead of driving.
4. Donating toys. Parting with toys can be hard, but explain that the ones that haven't been used in a while will make another deserving kid happy. They can either donate once in a while or every time they get a new toy.
5. Trying different foods. Picky eaters may not be easily persuaded to expand their taste buds, but stress that it's the only way for them to discover new favorite foods. Try focusing on healthy options like fruits, vegetables, or nuts.
6. Making a new friend. What kid couldn't use a new friend from time to time? Motivate them to expand their social circles by befriending someone who's new to the school or who's from a different group than they usually hang out with. Who knows — they might just find their new best friend.

Do you have any examples of your own?

This time of year might be known for giving up bad habits thanks to Lent, but we're advocating for picking up good habits instead. When it comes to spending, we could all use some tips to better our practices. Here are some that we hope will last well beyond 40 days.

• Buy for quality, not cost: If you're someone who frequently shops lesser-quality items because of the cheaper price tag, then consider how much you're actually saving in the long run. An expensive pair of boots might last you a lifetime, whereas you might have to keep replacing the more affordable pair that is poorly made.
• Keep detailed track of your expenses: For some people, checking bank statements from time to time is how they track finances. But keeping tabs on where money goes — how much do you really spend on eating out per week? — is key to understanding the bigger picture of how to save up. Download apps like Ace Budget 2 ($1) to help with the budgeting process.
• Find alternatives: Once you see where you spend most of your money (aside from rent or car payments), come up with alternatives to curb the costs. Are you burning a hole in your wallet because of multiple overpriced drinks with the girls? Try hosting a wine night instead and asking everyone to BYOB.
• Become less dependent on credit: You've probably heard this a million times from your mom, but there's a reason. Relying on credit cards can get you in trouble if you're not 100 percent on top of your finances. Give yourself a trial period where you pay only in cash or with a debit card so you have more control over your spending decisions.
• Do your research: Chances are that if you find something in the store that you want right then and there, you can find it online — or elsewhere — for cheaper. Even if it's not the exact same item, you can usually find something similar on sites like Amazon at deep discounts.
• Wait it out: We're all guilty of impulse shopping from time to time. The next time you see something you think you really want, wait it out for a few days or weeks. You might find that you don't need it after all — or even score it on sale.

If you haven't decided which vice to give up for Lent, it's not too late to start. Although many of the bad habits people drop are generally health-related, there are plenty of unhealthy money, career, and life behaviors you can choose to give up. Here are a couple of suggestions:

Things to consider giving up for your budget:

• Eating out or not setting a food budget.
• Store-bought coffee.
• Using your credit and debit card. Studies have shown that people tend to spend more when using plastic.
• Shopping for unnecessary things.
• Paying full price.
• Delay working on your taxes.

Things you should stop doing for your career:

• Relying on your memory. Instead, start scheduling tasks.
• Working late at the office.
• Pressing the snooze button.
• Procrastinating tasks. But first, you need to learn more about procrastination.
• Being late to work.
• Saying "yes" to everyone and stop overcommitting. Focus on learning how to prioritize.
• Having a messy desk.
• Multitasking, which makes people less efficient.

Quit these unhealthy habits for a more fulfilling life:

• Thinking negative thoughts about yourself or others.
• Being wasteful and start recycling.
• Worrying too much.
• Hoarding. Start decluttering by throwing away these 11 items.
• Nitpicking and nagging the ones you love.
• Putting yourself last. Try giving yourself some "me" time.
• Trying to be perfect.